Bridgeway event to address opioid response

Wednesday

GALESBURG — Kits of the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone, known under the brand name Narcan, will be distributed during an event Thursday at Bridgeway, 2323 Windish Drive.

That is just one aspect to a workshop called, "Opioid Overdose Awareness, Education and Prevention Training" to run from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. It is free and open to community members as well as emergency/first responders.

The Peoria Human Service Center received a federal grant to provide training to 38 counties in west-central Illinois so Bridgeway's program is supported by those dollars. The Center sub-contracted with UnityPoint Health (Robert Young Center) to provide training, education and community awareness about the opioid epidemic nationwide but also here in west-central Illinois, a news release said.

The following topics will be covered at Bridgeway Thursday night with the Robert Young Center partnering with the Galesburg Police Department, Bridgeway and the Knox County Health Department: what are opioids; the human brain's response to opioids; how opioids affect the human body; how opioids create dependence and addiction; how the epidemic started; what can be done about it; symptoms of an opioid overdose; how to prevent or reverse an opioid overdose with Naloxone.

Vicki Rose, director of substance abuse services for Bridgeway, said staff at the Galesburg facility underwent training from the Robert Young Center a few months ago combined with an outreach program in local junior high schools.

"We are seeing more opioid use in our own community and really step up and provide some of this information and prevention to this community," she said.

The event is not only to raise community awarness of the opioid issue here locally, but it is also an opportunity for opioid users, or their friends and families, to know about local resources if they are at a place where they are willing to seek help.

"Ultimately we want to save people's lives and get them on the path to recovery," Rose said.

Knox County saw an increase in synthetic opioid overdose deaths last year and that increase seems to line up with national numbers. In 2016, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association, synthetic opioids were involved in 46 percent of all fatal overdoses compared to 40 percent for prescription opioids. That is compared to synthetics being involved in 29 percent of all opioid-related overdose deaths in 2015, just the prior year.

The most common synthetic opioid is fentanyl, which is 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine.

Rose said she's noticed an increase in heroin usage locally in the last two years, but didn't know if an influx of fentanyl has played a part in that. Oftentimes fentanyl is mixed with heroin so the user may not know how strong of a dosage they are taking.

In responding to some in the public who may question giving opioid overdose reversal kits out for free, Rose said, "It’s all about saving lives and if there’s something that’s available that can save one person’s life and maybe get them into treatment and help them on the road to recovery, we’re going to support that."

Following the Thursday night event at Bridgeway, the Galesburg Fire Department will have free naloxone kits in a rotation among the three stations on the first Tuesday of every month. That program is also funded by the Robert Young Center in Peoria.

Nicholas Walters, a Galesburg firefighter, said the program is mirroring one done by Peoria firefighters.

He said the idea came from responding to overdose calls.

"Maybe try to confront this issue head-on as opposed to after the fact when we’re responding to a call," Walters said.

Much like the Thursday event at Bridgeway, there will be information at the three Galesburg fire stations on opioid use and local treatment options.

"One of the hardest things a lot of users have is trying to move past substance abuse and the drug usage and then resuming their normal life while still being surrounded by those triggers," Walters said.

On June 6, kits will be available at Central station, 150 S. Broad St., from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., a 30-minute break, and then at the Brooks Street station from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; another 30-minute break, and then from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Fremont Street station. Similar to the Bridgeway event, Robert Young Center staff will handle the event and GFD is housing the event.

If there is strong interest in the program, days could be added to the program but the plan is to offer free kits for at least several months starting out at the three stations, Walters said. The program is offered for users, family members and friends and even local business owners.

"What we do see is people go into businesses to use drugs and they have an event in a restroom or inside the business, it could happen at home or out in the street. It's not really confined to one area," Walters said.

Similar to Rose, Walters responded to what some may view critically with giving out free kits.

While touching on the various things that led to substance abuse disorder, such as genetics or socioeconomics or even an injury, Walters said, "The key component — it's not about giving people Narcan — it's about giving them the resources available to make that life change when they're ready to do that."

He also said, "Why not do everything we can to help every individual in the community, whether they identify they need help now or down the road?"

Rose, who had not heard of GFD's proposal, was happy to hear about it.

"I think that's really good. That's awesome," Rose said.

"I see family members sometimes really feel helpless and this is an opportunity for them to have some resources and us to partner as a community to slow this down."